As you enter college, there is a lot of wondering and a lot of guessing going on. After all, you’re on your own now and this is new territory. As classes begin you wonder if you even picked the right major. Or how about trying to guess on your multiple choice History exam that you totally didn’t study enough for. Oh, and let’s not forget the dreaded, guessing of what you Snapchatted your ex last night. Choosing where to live can make or break a college experience so let Rent College Pads take the guesswork out of where you’ll sign your first lease.

We sat down and searched through hundreds of off-campus housing options in Baton Rouge and read through tons of reviews, leaving you with the top rated landlords!

Want to see more properties near Louisiana State? Check out the complete list of houses and apartments near LSU for more off-campus housing options near campus.

Just minutes down the street from LSU are The Villas at Riverbend. This luxury-styled off-campus housing for students provides residents with the option of two, three, or four-bedroom villa style cottages that run along the Mississippi River. Whether you want to decorate the place to fit your style or opt out on lugging furniture across the country, students can choose whether or not they want a furnished or unfurnished villa. Forget scrambling around for quarters because each cottage comes with a washer and dryer.

Roped into your rent check are all your utilities including cable, internet, and free parking. When you have to pull an all-nighter, students can utilize the 24-hour business center that has computers and free printing. Get your mind off school in the 24-hour gym and relax in the hot tub. Invite your friends over and go swimming and cook up some food on the bbq grills provided for you. No need to worry about taking out your trash after parties, the guys at Riverbend have a trash valet pickup at your cottage doorstep. No more excuses for letting the garbage pile up!

Quickly gaining popularity as one of the best off-campus student housing communities, are the Arlington Cottages and Townhomes, that are fairly new to Baton Rouge. Located near LSU, students can roll out of bed and hop on the shuttle bus that takes you right to campus so there’s no reason you can’t make it to at least half of your classes! Arlington offers students 3, 4, and 5-bedroom cottages that have furnished room options. When you’re running late, no need to worry about who gets to shower first because everyone will have their own private bathroom.

No more having to hide your cat because pets are allowed and they even have a pet washing station. Arlington provides students with unbeatable amenities like a resort-style pool with outdoor cabanas, bbq grills, and a sand volleyball court. Relax, and get your mind off of studying at the fitness center where you can use the yoga studio and spin room. After a long weekend, sweat out the toxins in the sauna or steam room. While your apartment offers all these amazing features, let’s not forget you’re in school! Get your head back in the game and drink all the free coffee they offer residents so you can stay up and use the 24/7 clubhouse that includes a study hall.

Grab your favorite frozen drink and head to your private 5,000 sq ft multi-level pool to lounge in one of the many hammocks. Nope, this isn’t a tropical getaway, it’s just one of the many perks to living at the Wildwood Baton Rouge. This resort-style community near LSU offers residents two, three, and four-bedroom living options that come furnished where you can pick the style of decor your want! Resident Drake raves, “This place is wonderful. Great staff who genuinely care about the tenants.” The staff sets up students with tons of free food throughout the year to help them fuel their finals. They’ll even get restaurant sponsors and taco trucks to come by!

Save some cash because residents get a ton of discounted food at local businesses. Rain or shine utilize the indoor or outdoor fitness centers to wind down from a long day of classes. Round up a crew for a game of volleyball or basketball. Since this is college and I guess you’re supposed to work on homework students can use the cyber cafe, study rooms, and media pods, with all of this you won’t even need to go on campus to use the library. Aiden says, “10 out of 10 would recommend to a friend. I am glad Wildwood is my new home!”

Located along the LSU bus line lies the Woodlands of Baton Rouge. This off-campus student apartment community offers 2, 3, and 4-bedroom townhome-style apartments that come fully furnished with all utilities included within your rent price. This also included cable and internet! With an “all-inclusive” option this makes it nice and easy because students are only responsible for turning in one check for rent.

Bring along your fur baby because Woodlands is pet-friendly. Residents boast that Woodlands, “Is great. It has all you need!” Offering a massive clubhouse with a huge list amenities like an outdoor resort sized pool, a pool pavilion with ping-pong and pool tables, fireside lounge, and a rock climbing wall it’s easy to see why students love it here. The guys over at Woodlands know that a college kids schedule can be crazy and hectic so all of their amenities are available 24/7 to fit any busy lifestyle.

Just steps away from the LSU campus students can live in one of Baton Rouge’s top rated off-campus communities, Sterling Burbank. Offering individual leases and fully furnished options, students can choose between 1, 2, 4, and 5 bedroom floor plans. Sterling Burbank also has a roommate matching program to help set up students who need roommates based on your interests.

Grab your tube and spend a day in the heated pool that also has a lazy river and a water basketball court! Relax at one of the private cabanas and enjoy a drink (we mean read a book for class). With the courtyard and sound system around the pool, this is a perfect area to hold a party and use the bbq area. In addition, students also have access to the outdoor amphitheater, putting green, 24-hour fitness center, and tanning beds. Get your study group together and take over the cyber cafe or one of the many studying spaces throughout the community. Even though campus is nearby, students can still ride the shuttle bus to class if they choose so.

Don’t let all of the new luxury housing communities being built distract you from the hidden gem, The Villas on Brightside apartments. Residents say “ The building seems older on first look, but the inside is nicely maintained. Great experience so far. Feels like home!” The Villas on Brightside have 1 and 2 bedroom units for residents to choose from and rent includes cable. The community offers its tenants a pool so go for a swim or grab your friends for a pickup game of basketball on the court. There are also several bike paths to go for rides on and is only a short ride to the LSU campus. The complex even has a covered bus stop that takes students straight to campus. Beyond being close to campus, students will conveniently be near several banks, shops, and restaurants.

For over 25 years, Keyfinders has been providing prime property management services to the Baton Rouge area. With over 350 units around the area, students attending LSU can certainly find something to fit their style without breaking the bank. Many of these units will also come with utilities added into the rent price. Jean boasts Keyfinders is, “Such a wonderful company with wonderful professional people,” while Michelle said, “Keyfinders went above and beyond our expectations. They always made us feel like we were a top priority, was quick to respond to emails, and clearly brought a wealth of knowledge to the process.” When looking for a place to live, students typically want to live in a house (to throw house parties, duh) and a majority of their student properties are duplex homes so you’ll want to contact Keyfinders ASAP before they’re gone!

A short 10-minute walk lays between the LSU campus and one of the popular off-campus student housing communities, University Edge Baton Rouge. University Edge offers students 2, 3, and 4-bedroom floor plans that come fully furnished with leather-style seating, full kitchens that include a dishwasher, and in-unit laundry. No more roommates using the last of your shampoo or you getting stuck cleaning up after their mess because each student has their own bedroom with private bathroom.

If you’re thinking about bringing along your four-legged friend, pets are welcome in select apartments so be sure to inquire about that. University Edge provides tenants with a luxurious clubhouse, equipped with a game room and lounge area, swimming pool, fitness center, tanning beds, and private study spaces. Free parking is available to tenants but the walk to class is convenient and University Edge is a block away from the Tiger Trails bus stop that takes students right to the LSU campus.

When living at The Exchange at Baton Rouge you really can have it all! Offering several different living options from 1 to 4 bedroom units, Bailey exclaims, “The quality of living here is great! I feel very safe, especially because it is gated. The outdoor areas are also well-kept by the staff, which makes it a clean, pretty place to live. The office staff is always willing to help and go out of their way to assist residents. I really appreciate all of the small things they do to make residents happy!”

With so much to offer, it’s no wonder why The Exchange is so highly rated. Enjoy a weekend with friends and grill up some burgers at the outdoor kitchen and use the three different pools, cabana area, water volleyball, and pool area showers to clean up afterward. The 24-hour fitness centers has free weights and a spin room and there are plenty of walking/jogging trails around the premise. The Exchange is pet-friendly and even has a dog park for your furry friend to play at. No need to go to the library because students can use the study rooms and computer center in the comfort of their own home. The Exchange is also located near several shops and restaurants to make your errands easy!

Nestled just five minutes north of the LSU campus, lies the Canterbury Square Apartments. These one and two-bedroom units are all newly renovated with top amenities and appliances while providing tenants with the comfort and safety of the gated access to the community. Each floor of the building has a laundry facility for tenants to use and all kitchens come fully equipped. Outside tenants can enjoy two pools and the courtyard is a nice place to study and work on homework. Jogging becomes a lot more tolerable when you can take in the great views of the Mississippi River nearby. Downtown is also less than five minutes away so it’s easy access to the riverboat casinos and going out for a night on the town!

Callie Kollenbroich has been the Operations Coordinator and Content Writer/Editor at Rent College Pads since 2015. When she’s not working, you can find her at home, eating peanut butter out of the jar and bingeing an unhealthy amount of Forensic Files. She’s not as lame as she sounds.